I Have a 13 Year Old That Needs to Lose Weight...

Hi L.. Thirteen is an awkward age for kids. Often they will put on weight that will most likely come back off. Most important of all is not to make him feel badly about himself for being overweight. The best you can do for him is to change the way you are cooking, and provide healthy alternatives for snacking at home. You can't control what he eats at school, but if you don't have any junk at home, he'll eat the good stuff, and most likely, he'll grow to like it. Good Luck!

Check out allrecipes.com. They've got a TON of recipes on there that are healthy and delicious- lots of stuff that's specifically kid friendly.

Try to keep him off empty carbs as much as possible (white flour, sugar, etc.) emphasize to him that protein and veggies will keep him going longer and he won't feel so hungry so soon-
important things for athletes. Really talk up the 'athletes do this- athletes don't do that'. If he's serious about wanting to be a football player, talking it up like that should help. Plus, like the others said, it's getting to be much nicer out, encourage him to get out and have fun! Maybe him and some of his football lovin' buddies could get some 'practice' sessions going over the summer- maybe with the help of one of the dads as the 'coach'. I've never met a man who doesn't want to pass his love of the game onto to some willing young fellas!

Good luck!!!

I dont have kids that age, but have a stocky 3 year old and could see the same thing happening to her. I also struggle with my weight. Basically, I dont have sweets in the house-none! If we feel we want a family treat, we will go to the ice cream store as a very special occasion. Fruit is our dessert, or yogurt. Since my kids are not big on veggies yet, I mix them in with my own pasta sauce. We turn off the TV and get outside as much as we can. I know it is easier with little kids, and neither of mine has asthma, but give it a try. If you are really desparate, some Weight Watchers programs are specifically designed for teens! Good luck

I agree with start getting him involved in "practicing for football". Maybe get a ball so him and his friends can get some games going..cause calories vs calories burned. Your the mom so you are going to have to keep the junk out of the kitchen, stock up on fruit and veggies. Get rid of the white bread, since it's junk,and replace with whole wheat. Maybe get some pretzels and popcorn but watch how much carbs he's getting since carbs is what gets burned first then fat. Also, get rid of the sugary sodas or juice that their drinking.

My daughter is 12 yo and she tends to thicken up over the winter and thins out in the spring and summer cause she gets more active. Enroll him in some summer activities if you can..swimming, biking, hiking...all these are great for the whole family.

LMK if you need any other advise, help, or suggestions.

Hi L.,

I see also u said yr son has asthma, I would check also with yr son's doctor to make sure he can play football. In football there alot of running,getting hit in the chest. they tackle each other its a rough sport. So make sure yr doctor gives the ok,better to be safe.

I'd recommend getting him involved in some weight lifting/strengthening classes. He's going to have to do that with the hs football anyway....it'd make him much better. He's old enough that you can streamline his diet. I'd even ask the Dr. for a dietician consult....it'll all help him with everything in the long run....hopefully the asthma will improve with weightloss too. He's going to have to get into shape this summer for the fall football season. Just encourage encourage encourage. We are YMCA members and they have weight lifting classes for kids ages 11-14....this will help teach the proper techniques for the lifting....cost--the Y does have finacial aide available. Not much paperwork to it. Hope that helps.

T. C.

Hi L.,

It sounds like you have a pretty busy life as most moms do. I agree that it can be the age because my 10 yr old just put on extra weight out of the blue over the course of one year. He is very solid and he is active. He plays flag football with no problems. We DON'T make his weight an issue at all. I have a 18 yr old that went through the same thing and has played football at his heaviest and loved it. Now he is taking his weight into his own hands to control it. THAT IS BEST!! We never made it an issue but he is now at the age to take care of it himself which is what will last.

Also, you have the added issue of asthma which my husband suffered with in high school and college as he played football. He just kept his inhailer near by. My family has switched our home out to products that are non caustic and they have relieved MANY families of their asthma. My adopted daughter was hospitalized when she was about 2 yrs old with constricted airways. She has shown signs every summer of asthma and early on had to use an inhaler but not this summer after we switched out our cleaning and personal products!! There are testimonies after testimonies of how getting certain products out of your home can relieve these symptoms. If you are interested in getting more information just let me know by requesting more info from my website. www.livetotalwellness.com/burtonfamily and I will give you a call. I wish you well with your son.

HI L.

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I would suggest taking him to a nutrionist. That way if he is going to loose weight he is doing it the right way. Good Luck this is a tough age .

This a very sensitive area. I was overweight as an adolescent, and had extremely low self-esteem. Anytime anyone brought up the issue of my weight, I would get very upset. The best thing you can do is frequently remind you son how much you love him. Point out some of the positive traits (not just the physical, but how great his personality is, too). Keep making sure he is eating healthy, which means you need to be eating healthy, too. Teach good habits so when he is older and completely making his own food choices, he'll make the right ones.
I have an overweight 7 year-old daughter, and take a parent-child exercise class at the YMCA. Maybe you could try to exercise with your son. Even if it is only a walk around the block. He gets exercise, and you get some one on one time with him. Also, keep in mind, with puberty comes the likelihood he will sprout up and shed some of that "baby fat". -Jen

make it a family thing everybody should eat healthy and portioned. And how about a couple nights a week you all go for a family walk. and turn off the tv. Have him just play outside.

the bad thing with football is that the coach just might want that extra weight to use him him as defense. its sick i know, but dont tell your son that, now i want to tell you a little about my eating habits and my weight.

i have a glass of milk for brekfast, lunch is some kind of sandwhich{blt, burger,pbj,and a drink} i snack on candy bars if i am busy cutting grass, or cleaning, to keep my sugar up, and to keep from getting sick feeling, no dinner, maybe once in a while i will make a staek with no sides, or stuffed chicken breast but no sides, just the chicken breast, but i eat all night long, soda, chips, whatever, but i do it in moderation, not a whole bag,

some days i eat junk non stop, for a while this winter, i ate a loaf of bread a day, whole milk, skittles i need rehab for skittles. the other day i pulled the cardboard off the ice cream and poured syrup on it and ate that for dinner. one night we had hot fudge brownie delights for dinner . i weigh 110, i had 2 kids, i DO not work out, but i also do not lay around on my but all day. i do not do diet pills or carbs or count calories.

1 thing on your plate for dinner is plenty, bbq chicken breast and a glass of milk is plenty, you dont have to have 3-4 things on your plate, think of it, 3 different foods at one, 3 times a day, thats 9 differt kinds of food, thats alot of food, and a lot of work cooking preparing,

if you worry about the food group thing, then one day have greenbean cassorole for lunch, or offer corn with dinner as it has no calories, just dont but a ton of food out 3 times a day and then wonder why "i keep gaining weight"

and dont be like my mother in law she thinks she can stuff her face all day as long as it says "low carbs" or "weight watchers"

with summer coming go swimming alot, or get him a gym set, with him wanting to play football, that would go over big time, if you cant afford one from the store, look in those ad weeklys, or yard sales, garage sales, see when he starts to works muscles, it will burn all the junk he eats and convert it into muscle, it wiil seem like he is putting on more weight at first, but muscle weighs more than fat, you will notice a difference real soon. he will eat more however, but as long as he works out every day that should be no problem, he will want lots of carbs, bread and pasta to help him build muscle,let him have it. as long as he works with his weights, tell him it will help him be a better football player{it will} the muscle he builds will help protect his bones and keep them from breaking while playing sports like football.